My realtor's going to break up with me !!

You know that feeling in HS when you think your boyfriend's gonna break up with you?  But you won't find out 'til after 5th period?  Crikey, house shopping isn't for sissies.  So we took today off and drove to Chama for a hamburger. 

Chama is a small (but WAY bigger than Abiquiu) town about an hour north of here, way up north by the border with Colorado. And much higher, too - Abiquiu is 6200 elev., Chama is 7800 - so there was snow up there; a lot of snow.  But it's spring, so plenty of mud, too.  We had lunch at Foster's which has been there (under different names \ management) since 1881.  Good burgers.  Great (large!) margaritas.

I keep catching myself out on how different New Mexico is from any place else I've ever lived.  Nobody lives here.  It's quiet, I haven't heard a jet in weeks.  The skies are endless and clear.  The rocks are simply magnificent.  The snow on the way to Chama is a pristine white, for miles and miles.  The people are open, and intelligent.  And nice.  Really, really nice.

What do you do? 

Six months ago I was a voice teacher, a professional singer, and a farmer going to farmers markets.  That was until September.

Then my life flipped upside down when I tumbled down the stairs and broke (shattered, L says) my ankle.  I don’t think the metaphor is too strong, and of course I wondered what it all meant, what the Universe was trying to tell me.  Immediately my job became taking care of myself, healing my ankle, and I practiced this in Colorado for ten weeks, then came home to AZ to practice for another ten weeks.

Now I’m in a mobile home park in New Mexico, and my job is “moving”. 

L and I are in full-on move mode.  We are driving around, seeing the sights, getting to know the neighborhoods, and meeting new people on the rate of about 3 a day.  Names, so many names, not the strong suit of either one of us.  No TV (gasp)!  Very sketchy internet (gasp gasp)!!  We crashed over the weekend and holed up.  The Airstream got very small.

Perhaps “occupation” is a better word. How do I occupy myself.  Overall, my occupation for the past six months has been a lot of hurry-up-and-wait times.  During the wait times, I continue down the path of learning (AFLE) how to be in the moment.  I have periods when I’m fairly successful at this, and periods – like right now – when not so much.  Did I mention how small the AS has gotten?

What does it all mean?  I haven’t a frickin clue.  But my mantra from the bone-healing phase – take time – seems to still fit.  When I can remember to breathe.

Things on top of other things.


When living the Airstream life, space is, of course, at a premium.  Therefore, I have come to the conclusion that 2 layers of things, on top of other things, is my goal.  I shall only ever attempt to have two things on top of one another, and only two.  This gives me the facility to pick up the top thing – which is invariably NOT the thing I want – in order to achieve the bottom thing. 

This is greatly preferable to simply carrying around things, which is another one of my “tricks”.  One becomes, in essence, a mobile storage device; a bi-pedal bookcase, or pantry, or laundry cabinet, depending on what one is carrying around.  I have read many wise RV-ers speak of never purchasing one more thing,  unless one knows where that thing is going to be stored.  I admire their principles.  I try to adhere to mine.

Living the Airstream life. We have now been at Base Camp for 6 nights, and I have learned two things about a tiny home; how I still think my coffee cup (jacket \ phone) is too far away (you mean I have to get up & walk, what, 10 ft?) and, as long as the outside is also part of my living space, this is plenty of room. And earplugs. I recommend earplugs. After all, each passing in the hall, each reaching over one another is a smoochie opportunity.



This is Bessie's first real test run, and we've been checking out the various systems and making sure they all work. Yesterday, for instance, she was a little constipated, but thankfully we figured out quickly how to alleviate that. Today we're dealing with a dodgy water heater.

On the 4th night out we got hit with a snow storm, which left about 6 inches total before passed through. Bessie performed like a champ, and we are snug like bugs in rugs.

I really love the little kitchen. Sure, it could be a lot more modern, but it functions beautifully and, with the possible exception of no oven (we haven't tested it yet) it has everything you'd need. So far we've made spaghetti with meat sauce, green chili burros, pea soup, oatmeal, omelettes, salads, and apple crisp. And lots and lots of coffee.

When Bessie's 100%, when the weather warms up just a bit more, when I am just a wee bit stronger, we can pull her up north and get started on finding a forever home.